Rhino Protection

Fundraising global stats: 97% left

Amount raised: $300

Amount left: $9,700

All 5 rhino species are facing the threat of extinction within our lifetimes due to poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking. Rhinos are being killed by poachers at a rate of just over 3 a day. Many rhino populations have already gone locally extinct and others are on the brink.

Rhino horn can fetch between $40,000 and $60,000, per pound. Rhino poachers, syndicate criminal networks, international traffickers, and corrupt officials view killing rhinos for their horns as a lucrative business. Anti- poaching ranger units (APUs) defending rhino are not receiving the same level of support or funding as the poaching networks, and/or the funds are not distributed in a way that are impacting the ground efforts.

Many APUs are still lacking basic resources needed to do their daily job. Items like boots, uniforms, night vision, drones, trained dogs, bullet proof vests and lightweight camping kit are all in high demand. APUs are expected to live within the natural habitat of the rhinos, patrol for long hours, under harsh environmental conditions, and usually poor pay.

They are literally putting their lives on the line to defend rhinos, from poachers, and they need all the help they can get. Training is also a very vital aspect, commonly overlooked, that is desperately needed for some teams working within the rhino poaching pressure zones of Southern and Eastern Africa.